Four of the top-10 pitching staffs in baseball are attached to teams with losing records according to Pitching WAR. And because New York has to be the center of the universe, it makes sense that the Yankees and Mets are at the top.
Each week this season I will be looking at the week ahead for pitchers. Waiver options, streamers, pitchers making two starts, injury updates and more can be found within.
Waiver Wire/Streamers
Nathan Eovaldi – Boston Red Sox
Yahoo: 75%, ESPN: 78%
Slim chance he is available, but this is last call on his ownership. Eovaldi’s Expected ERA (xERA) is lower than his actual ERA, and his Expected Fielder Independent Pitching (xFIP) is only .07 points higher than his ERA. This is the good Nate Eovaldi pitching on a good team.
Anthony DeSclafani – San Francisco Giants
Yahoo: 59%, ESPN: 60%
The former Red has as many outings allowing three earned runs (2) as he does zero, and both happened on the road. Matter of fact, DeSclafani has yet to allow an earned run pitching at home. He gets the Padres at home in his lone start next week. DeSclafani has similar stats to teammate Kevin Gausman but is owned in nearly 40% fewer leagues. That needs to change.
Kyle Gibson – Texas Rangers
Yahoo: 50%, ESPN: 54%
This is the best Kyle Gibson has pitched in his career. The scary thought of regression is very much on my mind, but his peripherals are in line with his career, and he is limiting hard contact. It also helps that the veteran has shaved his walk rate, has not allowed a home run, and added a mile per hour to his cutter. Latching on to a pitcher on a poor team is always an issue because of wins, but Gibson has been another case study for abolishing the win in fantasy baseball.
Huascar Ynoa – Atlanta Braves
Yahoo: 52%, Yahoo: 42%
What else needs to be said? He has at least five strikeouts in every start and has two starts against bottom 10 Offensive WAR teams this week. He is the best available pitcher with two starts this week.
JT Brubaker – Pittsburgh Pirates
Yahoo: 58%, ESPN: 54%
Help you help you. This is the third week he has made the list.
Madison Bumgarner – Arizona Diamondbacks
Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 35%
After a horrendous start to his season, MadBum has allowed two earned runs over his last 17 innings pitched (three starts) and has three wins. He is also recording his highest strikeout rate since 2016 and is backed by one of the most surprising offenses this season. He gets a road start against Miami and lines up as a streamer.
Injuries
The Rockies placed righty Antonio Senzatela on the 10-day injured list due to a right groin strain.
Dodgers swingman Tony Gonsolin has started throwing off a mound. This is good news coming on the heals of Dustin May being placed on the IL with a shooting sensation in his right arm. Look for a ramped up Gonsolin and/or David Price to get looks in the rotation.
Stephen Strasburg threw a 30-pitch bullpen session May 1 and will throw in a couple more days.
Tigers lefty Matthew Boyd should avoid an IL stint after leaving his last start prematurely with knee tendinitis. He is expected to pitch during their weekend series against the Minnesota Twins.
The Blue Jays designatedTanner Roark for assignment.
Chris Paddack was placed on the 10-day IL, but manager Jayce Tingler could not comment why. That is an indication Paddack could have tested positive for COVID-19.
Corbin Burnes was also placed on the IL with what appears to be a positive COVID test. Brewers manager Craig Counsell could not comment on specifics.
James Paxtonunderwent Tommy John surgery at some point over the last week-plus, ending speculation on the route he would take to handle his injury.
Two-Start Pitchers
This is a projected list. Starts subject to change and not all starters have been named.
Huascar Ynoa (ATL) – at WSH, vs PHI
Adrian Houser (MIL) – at PHI, at MIA
Adam Wainwright and Kwang Hyun Kim (STL) – vs NYM, vs COL
Adam Civale (CLE) – at KC, vs CIN
Jakob Junis and Mike Minor (KC) – vs CLE, vs CHW
Shohei Ohtani (LAA) – vs TB, vs LAD – Monitor Ohtani’s situation as he may only pitch once.
Tyler Anderson (PIT) – at SD, at CHC
Zack Greinke (HOU) – at HOU, vs TOR
Aaron Nola (PHI) – vs MIL, at ATL
Jacob deGrom (NYM) – at STL, vs ARI
